Introduction
Drug trafficking is the illicit trade that epitomizes the dark side of globalization. In all its forms, it enjoys the interconnectivity and the mindset of a large economic sector of the twenty-first century. However, because of its illegality, its strategy and tactics are intertwined with criminal organizations and the aim of accumulating money. Its nature is criminal and by no means political; however, given the scope, complexity, and weight of its social consequences, it has political relevance. Drug trafficking is not divorced from political history, the international system, as well as geography. The strategy of drug cartels follows the logic of investment and supply chains, but they need violence and corruption to achieve their aims. The corroding effect on society is what renders drug trafficking a threat to global security.
Definition
The United Nations Office for Drug and Crime (UNODC) defines drug trafficking as “a global illicit trade involving the cultivation,...
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Carlucci, P. (2022). Drug Trafficking. In: Romaniuk, S., Marton, P. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Global Security Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74336-3_35-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74336-3_35-1
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